" I would like to live in the same soil as my ancestors, and walk under their trees, and do what they did, and think their thoughts. " - Elizabeth Lawrence. After 4 decades in Sweet Home Chicago I moved to North Carolina where my first Irish ancestor landed in the early 1700's. I'm an artist, garden designer and grandma blogging about my life in this " Southern part of Heaven " as Chapel HIll is called.

I'm always cheered when I hear and see my favorite bluebird in December, eating the suet of berries and nuts I put out for them. Soon they will be filling the many nesting boxes I have put up in my little forest. Of course there are many other visitors to the feeder -a rather large woodpecker, mourning doves, cardinals , chickadees and wrens.

We have been lucky this December -no extreme cold , snow or ice storms. Some days were pleasant and mild -often in the 60's and low '70's. I am experimenting with a Fall/Winter veggie garden and have covered it several times when it got down below freezing.

Cabbages, kale, broccoli flowers, spinach, and parsley growing nicely in raised beds, well mulched and with a layer of peat moss to keep the soil warm. I have harvested some rainbow chard and broccoli flowers.

When I'm not able to garden on cold days I use the time to paint.

This one is called " Dogwood. " I am going to create as many paintings as I can this winter for an exhibition I will have in May or June next year.

December is always a time of reflection as the days fade out and a new year arrives. This year has brought both good and bad news but I am ever hopeful that next year will be better.

Happy New Year to everyone and wishes for a prosperous and healthy one.